Box or carton



Aug. 10, 1943. J ULLRICH 2,326,417

BOX 0R CARTON Filed July 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 10, 1943.

F. J. ULLRICH BOX OR CARTON Filed July 31, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 10, 1943 BOX OR CARTON Fred J. Ullrich, Kalamazoo, MiOlL, assignor of one-half to Lee A. Fordon, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 31, 1939, Serial No. 287,568

2 Claims.

proved automatic set-up and tuck-in closure provisions at the respective ends thereof adapting the box to be quickly and easily erected from.

fiat knockdrown position, "filled, and then readily closed to provide a highly effective seal.

Further objects to relating details and econo-- mies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in .the claims, A structure embodying the features of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the box according to my invention illustrating the same in erected and closed position and in particular showing the novel automatic set-up provisions on the bottom of the box in erected locked relation.

Fig. 2 is a View in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating the box bottom interiorly of the box, with the parts in erected position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2, further illustrating the aforesaid automatic set-up and tuck-in closure provisions.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan exterior view illustrating the box of my invention in partially erected condition.

Fig. 5 is a top plan interior view somewhat similar to Fig. 4, being in section transversely of the box, illustrating the bottom set-up and locking provisions and the coaction of the side and end flaps during the process of erecting the box, the outline of the box in finally erected position being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the box in inoperative fiat collapsed or knockdrown form,

being partially broken away ,to illustrate the relation of the bottom forming and automatic set-up elements in that position.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the blank employed in making the box of Figs. 1 to 6 and showing the formation and scoring thereof.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, illustrating the blank of a slightly modified embodiment of the invention, I

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a box formed from the blank of Fig. 7 with one end thereof open to illustrate the relation of the parts of the novel closure constituted by the blank of Fig. 7

The present invention relates to collapsible or foldable boxes or cartons, being particularly directed to a box or carton which is quickly and easily set up or erected and securely held in erected position without necessitating several operations of manually tucking in, cementing, or lockingly engaging various elements provided for those purposes.- Moreover, the invention relates particularly to a structure which is automatically self locking in set-up or erected form and to provide a structure which is amply rigid even when a relatively light grade of container stock is employed In addition to possessing the foregoing characteristics, the structure of my invention is well adapted for manufacture by automatic machinery, being formed by a few simple scoring and transverse and longitudinal folding operations; It is likewise well adapted for the machine folding and securing or cementing of such few parts as are necessary for the production of the initially assembled knockdown form.

My invention likewise includes a box having a novel tuck-in type end closure designed to provide an effective and leak-proof closure and to be capable of being manipulated very quickly and easily to produce a seal which is practically airtight. If desired, the box in accordance with one aspect of the invention may be provided with closure of the type described at both the top and bottom thereof, whereby to provide a container which to all practical intents and purposes is airtight. I

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a box or container'in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, said box being provided with a bottom 2, formed by automatic set-up elements or parts to be hereinafter described, and having a top which is generally indicated 3.

In Fig. 7 I illustrate a blank 4 of a suitable grade of carton or container stock from which the aforesaid box or carton may be made. This blank is scored as shown by dotted lines and is designated by the reference numeral 5 to out line the rectangular side panels 6, 1 and end panels 8, 9, the extreme side panel I being provided with a sealing flap I0 adapted to be adhesively secured to the opposite extreme end panel 8 by adhesive, indicated by the reference numeral 8|. The bottom forming, automatic set-u provisions of my invention are generally indicated by the reference numeral II and consist of and bottom flaps 2, l3 connected to end panels 8, 9 respectively, andiside bottom flaps l4, l6 connected to side panels 6, I respectively, these last named side bottom flaps having wings l6, l1 connected thereto and defined by the scored fold lines l8,

The closure provisions of my invention are generally designated by the reference numeral l9 and will be hereinafter described in detail.

In the manipulation of the blank 4 to provide the initially assembled automatic set-up box, the flaps I2, |4, l3 and I5 are all bent inwardly on the transverse score line 6 connecting them to the respective panels 8, 6, 9, I, being folded through 180 degrees on this line into parallelism and contact with said panels. The wings l6, II are then bent reversely of this fold onto the flaps |4, |5 respectively, the resultant positions of the various flaps and wings being indicated in Fig. '7 in broken lines. Panel I is then folded onto panels 9 and 6 along the score line separating the panels 1 and 9 and the end bottom fiap I3 is secured to the reversely bent wing I! by adhesive Ill. The panel 8 is next folded onto panel 6 along the score line separating the same and the reversely bent wing I6 is secured to flap |2 by adhesive I6 I To complete the folding and securing manipulations, the sealing flap III, which overlaps end panel 8 in the position of the parts just described, is adhesively secured to that panel. No further operations are necessary so far as the formation and assembly of the automatic set-up provisions are concerned.

In order to render the aforesaid provisions self locking in operative erected position, the flaps l4 and I5 are conformed to provide the coacting notched open tongues 20, 2| respectively, which in the completely assembled knockdown condition of the container illustrated in Fig. 6 are disposed in opposing relation ainst the side walls of the box. The tongue 2| preferably has an inclined extremity 22 to guide the other t n 20 into locking position during the act of setting up the box, as will be described.

With the parts in the foregoing flat condition, it is only necessary to set up the box to compress the extreme edges of the fiat folded article, causing the sides and flaps attached thereto to move laterally relative to one another, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 4 and 5, and at the same time spring the side bottom fiaps t4, I5 downwardly toward horizontal position. Since the end flaps |2, |3 are adhesively secured to the side flaps,

they are likewise drawn toward the final operative In the foregoing movement, the locking tongues 20, 2| approach and pass one another, as illustrated in Fig. 5, tongue 20.riding on the inclined edge 22 of tongue 2|, and when the box is erected to its final rectangular outline, these tongues snap into the locking engagement illustrated clearly in Fig. 2, the inclined edge or extremity 22 permitting the composite lateral and vertical movement of the opposed tongue 20 and leading it into the desired locking relation. The end bottom flaps l2, I3 lie on the thus interlocked side bottom flaps l4, l6 as illustrated in Fig. 2, to maintain the locked relation of the latter and complete the bottom or floor of the box. These end flaps l2, l3 have frictional side engagement with the side walls to further resist displacement of the parts.

In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of the foregoing structure wherein, instead of a pair of similar or notched open locking tongues, I employ a tongue 23 on the side bottom flap l5 and a locking slit 24 on the side bottom flap l4, these two elements coacting in practically the same manner as the tongues 26, 2| of the first described embodiment. I find that in the setting up operation the tongue 23 exerts sufficient pressure on side fiap M to cause the tongue to enter the slit 24 and eflect locking engagement with the curved end thereof.

In the embodiments of both Figs. 7 and 8, it is desirable that the cementing or securing flap Ill lie interiorly of the box and for this purpose I cut away the end bottom flap |2 at 25 to accommodate the sealing flap l6 when the flap I2 is folded to the position indicated in broken lines and the blank is finally assembled in flat condition.

The box of my invention includes a novel tuck-in sealing or closure arrangement l9 for the top thereof. As illustrated in Fig. '7 this arrangement consists of a tuck-in sealing member 26 connected to the side panel 1 and a further relatively continuous or uninterrupted member 21 for the end and side panels 6, 8, 9, which is separated from the tuck-in member 26 by a notch 28. The member 26 is scored at 29 to provide a bendable tongue 29| enabling the ready manipulation thereof in the tucking operation to be described, while the member 21 is preferably perforated at 292 and scored at 293 to provide top end flaps 30 adjacent the walls 8, 9 and a readily foldable gusset 3| connecting these fiap'swith a top side fiap 32 adjacent to and connected to wall 6. This gusset is further perforated or slitted at 33 whereby when the end fiaps 30 are folded inwardly toward one another, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the gusset first bends along perforated lines 292 and 33 to form a tuck-in chute 34 in the member 21 between fiap 3| and the body of the gusset. This chute affords a relatively large-mouth opening to receive the lead-in end or tongue 29| of the tuck-in flap 26.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate an embodiment of the tuck-in top which is similar to that of Fig. '7, with the further feature that the top flaps are gusset-connected all the way around the top. An extra gusset 36 replaces the notch 28 of Fig. '7, and connects the tuck-in flap 26 to end flap 39. Furthermore, the arrangement of Fig. 8 includes an ear 3'! which when assembled'is adhesively secured to an opposite corner 38 on the blank which is connected to end fiap 30 by a perforated fold line 39 to thereby continuously connect the respective end and side flaps 30, 26. This provides a top which is leakproof around the entire periphery thereof due to the gusseted construction throughout.

The foregoing container structures are economical of material, well adapted for machine manufacture, and when set up are extremely rigid and leakproof. The automatic set-up and locking elements are simple in nature and unfailing in operation, while the tuck-in seal is likewise simple and highly satisfactory in operation. 7 I have illustrated and described my improveinents in embodiments which are very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A box or carton having opposed side and end walls secured to one another and constituting a fiat tubular open-ended form in the initial, inoperative, knockdown condition of the box, side flaps integrally connected to said side.

walls and bent inwardly of said form to lie against the side walls in said knockdown condition, said flaps having locking means offset laterally from one another, and end flaps ben'dably connected to the end walls and lying thereagainst interiorly of said form, said side flaps having portions bendably connected thereto by score lines adapting the portions to-be reversely bent and initially disposed against the side flaps, said portions being lapped over said end flaps along the entire adjacent edge of the latter and being adhesively secured to the end flaps along a continuous zone coextensive in length with the extreme line of overlap of the end flap by the aforesaid bendable connection to the side fiat portion, whereby said portions and end flaps in operative erected condition constitute a substantially integral, leakproof bellows corner for the bottom of the box, said side and end flaps being swung to erected position normal to the walls upon relative lateral shifting of the walls, with the end flaps disposed inasaaerr ternally of said side walls and side flaps, said locking means engaging, operatively at the termination thereof to lock the flaps in operative erected position and thereafter resist return movement of the flaps and walls to original position, at least one of said end flaps being of widthsufiicient to laterally engage the side walls in erected position along a substantial portion of the length of the opposite sides thereof to further resisu said return movement.

2. A box or carton having side and end walls secured together to provide an initial tubular form, a pair of side flaps connected to said side walls and bent inwardly'of the form to lie against the side walls, and a pair of end flaps connected to the end walls and disposed'interiorly of the form, said side flaps having portions bendably connected thereto by score lines adapting the portions to be reversely bent and disposed against the side flaps, said portions being lapped over said end flaps along the entire adjacent edge of the latter and being adhesively secured to the end flaps whereby said portions and end flaps constitute an integral leakproof bellows corner for the bottom of the box, said side and end flaps being swung to erected position normal to the walls upon relative lateral shifting of the walls, one of said side flaps having a locking slit therein and the other thereof having a locking projection engageable in said sit in operative erected position of the box to thereafter resist return of the flaps and walls to original position, at least one of said end flaps having parallel opposite sides and being of sufficient width whereby said opposite sides laterally engage the adjacent side walls to further resist return of the flaps and walls to original position.

FRED J. ULLRICH. 

